Excitation-mediating and inhibition-mediating dopamine-receptors: a new concept towards a better understanding of electrophysiological, biochemical, pharmacological, functional and clinical data

Psychopharmacologia. 1976 Feb 2;45(3):243-54. doi: 10.1007/BF00421135.

Abstract

A great number of earlier reported experimental data dealing with the role of dopamine in dopamine-loaded structures within the mammalian brain have raised questions concerning the concept of dopamine as an inhibitory agent acting on one type of receptor. A critical review of the anatomical, histochemical, electrophysiological, pharmacological and functional studies reveals that the dopamine-loaded structures are marked by an internal differentiation at various levels. It is attempted to demonstrate that this is due to a heterogeneous distribution of two distinct types of dopamine-receptors, each characterized by their own properties: DAe and DAi-receptors. Furthermore, the experimental and clinical implications are discussed in view of the hypothesis that balance between both types of receptors is essential for normal psychomotor functioning.

MeSH terms

  • Amphetamines / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Apomorphine / pharmacology
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Cats
  • Caudate Nucleus / physiology
  • Corpus Striatum / analysis
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Dopamine / physiology*
  • Electrophysiology
  • Ergot Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Movement Disorders / metabolism
  • Neural Inhibition
  • Piribedil / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Drug*
  • Receptors, Neurotransmitter / drug effects
  • Septal Nuclei / analysis
  • Substantia Nigra / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / physiology

Substances

  • Amphetamines
  • Ergot Alkaloids
  • Receptors, Drug
  • Receptors, Neurotransmitter
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Piribedil
  • Apomorphine
  • Dopamine